By Lisa Carolin
Discipline, self-control, physical fitness and conditioning are all part of both Mike Trester‘s professional and personal life. Trester was recently appointed West Operation Patrol Lieutenant for the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Department, and he is also an accomplished martial arts instructor.
Trester owns the Commando Krav Maga Chelsea & Kitchi Tae Kwon Do studio located at the corner of Stofer Road and North Territorial Road in Dexter Township. In 2008, he decided to offer more than traditional martial arts and calls Commando Krav Maga one of the best reality-based, self-defense systems.
“I signed up for an instructor’s boot camp and was hooked from day one,” said Trester. “Commando Krav Maga is effective because the techniques are simple movements and are easy to recall during times of stress. The primary goal is survival.”
He says that the techniques don’t require strength or size to use them and says it is the most effective reality-based system available to civilians.
Trester is currently a Level 6 Certified Commando Krav Maga instructor, and he plans to travel to the Caribbean island of Curacao next year to test for the next level. Instructors have to travel to Israel to test for level 8, which is currently the highest level attainable.
As a sheriff’s deputy, Trester’s new position has him overseeing patrol operations for the townships of Scio, Lodi, Dexter and Webster, along with Dexter and Manchester villages. He also serves with Washtenaw Metro SWAT as the Sniper team leader.
His experience in law enforcement has been a great motivator in teaching and learning Commando Krav Maga.
“I saw victims who didn’t know how to protect themselves,” said Trester. “I interviewed mothers who were suffering abuse from their husbands or boyfriends, and children who, hiding in a closet, watched their mother get attacked with a knife. Every time I investigated these vicious crimes, I would go home and question what I could do to help empower our citizens, to give them a warrior mindset, to give them tools to help them survive a violent encounter.”
Classes at Trester’s studio are open to ages 14 and over, and he invites people to come and try one out. For more information, click here.
